Today, my significant other wanted to cook dinner in a crockpot. While he is an expert with this cooking device, I have never used a crockpot. But I am an expert at minimizing messes. So, the crockpot needed a liner. At least, that’s what my friends told me. So, I went to the store in search of crockpot liners.
Initially, I thought Lady Luck was on my side. I got the first parking spot, next to the handicapped spot. Bonus! This was going to be a quick in-and-out shopping experience. A piece of cake.
As I entered the store, there was an enormous display of crockpots of all makes and sizes. I thought it was weirdly coincidental. But alas, the display lacked liners. But that was okay. I figured they would be in the paper products aisle with the aluminum foil and oven bags. So, I made a beeline for the paper products aisle.
When I reached the spot where the liners should have been, the shelf was empty. Everything else on that shelf was fully stocked. An employee was behind me.
I said, “I’m looking for crockpot liners. Do you know if you have any more?”
She replied, “They took them and put them up front. Look in the baking display.”
I thanked her and headed for the baking display. There were no liners to be found.
Another employee asked, “Can I help you?”
“I’m looking for crockpot liners.”
“Did you look in the paper products aisle?”
“Yes. The lady there told me they should be here.”
“They’re not.”Duh. “I know.”
“Let me see if there are any in back.”
My mind decided to start singing, The Impossible Dream.

To dream the impossible dream
To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow
To run where the brave dare not go

After several minutes, I knew she wasn’t coming back.
In the meantime, I counted four endcaps that had crockpots on them. Four endcaps! What’s the deal on crockpots? Why was every make and model on sale? Was this God’s way of taunting me? Or was I on an episode of The Twilight Zone?
I trudged up toward the front of the store. I wasn’t ready to give up yet. They were pushing crockpots hard. Those liners had to be somewhere. And by God, I was going to find them!

This is my quest
To follow that star
No matter how hopeless
No matter how far

I approached an older employee who was stocking the Christmas section. She looked as if she was a seasoned employee. No pun intended! And I wanted to slow down Christmas from coming to the store. I mean really! It’s November 2nd. Anyway …
“Excuse me, can you tell me where the crockpot liners are?”
“Did you look in the paper products aisle?”
”Yes. The lady there told me they were in the baking area. They weren’t.”
“Hold on. Let me check.”
She proceeded to use the radio clipped to her blue smock to ask if anyone knew the whereabouts of the crockpot liners.
The first response: “Check the paper aisle.”
I sighed heavily.
The second: “Check the baking display.”
I rolled my eyes.
Thirdly: “We’re out. We don’t have any.”
I threw up my hands in exasperation.
The radio chatter ceased.
She said, “Sorry. Guess we don’t have any.”
I thanked her and walked away. But I was not done yet.

To fight for the right
Without question or pause
To be willing to march into Hell
For a heavenly cause

I walked around and searched every single display in the front of the store. And dum-da-da-dum! Success! I found the stupid liners on a display between two registers.

And the world will be better for this
That one (wo)man, scorned and covered with scars
Still strove with her last ounce of courage
To reach the unreachable star!

Thrilled with my victory, I skipped back to the lady in the Christmas section. “I found the liners. They’re between two registers two aisles over.”
She smiled. “Glad you found them.”
The song, Celebration, by Kool & the Gang, came on the radio on the drive home. I cranked it up and sang along. Hey, I was happy after all of that.
I walked in the door and proudly handed him the box of liners. “You won’t believe what I had to go through to find these.”
Sheepishly, he said, “Um. I didn’t wait. I started already without one.”Oh, my God! Are you freaking kidding me?
Without uttering a word, I walked away. At that moment, only extremely colorful language would have come out of my mouth. And being the good Catholic girl that I am, and since today is All Souls Day, I thought it best to keep my mouth shut.

I am excited to announce that Finally! An Unexpected Love Story is being released!

Finally! An Unexpected Love Story is the sequel to my hilarious misadventures in online dating book, Mis-Matched to Miss Matched.

It’s a “He Said/She Said” book about the funny, offbeat, and often challenging courtship between my co-author, L. E. Hewitt, and me, Suzanne Purewal. Our quirky and sarcastic senses of humor will have you laughing out loud.

The book chronicling the saga of my online dating misadventures, Mis-Matched to Miss Matched, is being released this Saturday, June 3rd!

Thank you for following my bizarre dating escapades for the past four years. I know the question that remains on your mind is, “Did I give up, or did my perseverance finally pay off?” Continue reading →

Merry Christmas greetings to one and all! As part of my “Mis-Matched to Miss Matched” dating series, I have penned yet another version of, The Twelve Days of Christmas, with my online dating twist. It’s destined to be a classic for sure!

My Twelve Days of Christmas

On the first day of Christmas, online dating gave to me, No man worth my membership fee.

On the second day of Christmas, online dating gave to me, Two e-mails from women, And no man worth my membership fee.

On the third day of Christmas, online dating gave to me, Three convicted felons, Two e-mails from women, And no man worth my membership fee.Continue reading →

I will be appearing at the 67th Annual Christmas Gift & Hobby Show, at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, West Pavilion, booth #303. I will be signing books every day of the show, running from Wednesday, November 9th through Sunday, November 13th.
To honor our active duty military members, Veterans and first responders, I am also donating a portion of this month’s book sales’ proceeds to the Save A Warrior Program.

What can I say about myself that you don’t already know? You know I’m a cancer survivor. I got downsized from my job several years ago. And the trilogy of doom was rounded out with that unexpected divorce.
But I am still standing, despite the efforts of all of those evil doers! Obviously, I was meant to follow a different path.
What path that is, I have no clue. There were a few times when I thought I knew. But time after time, I hit a major construction zone and was sent on yet another freaking detour because the bridge was out.
I hated construction orange before this odyssey began. So imagine how I feel about it when I see it now!
Portions of this journey have left me exhausted. It’s the nature of the beast. Walking uphill, both ways, in a blinding snow storm will do that to you. So will moving your parents from New York to Florida when you live in Indiana.
I initially had grand writing plans for this year. But you all know that life happens while you’re making other plans. And that is exactly what happened to me.
If you missed my posts on my family vacation and moving my parents, then scroll down to read them. You will laugh yourself silly.
If you are short on time, the gist is that my parents are determined to kill me. And because I am a good daughter, well that and because of Catholic guilt, I let them keep trying.
But you already knew that I was a glutton for punishment because I persist with online dating.
But seriously folks, I continue on this strange and unpredictable journey because I can’t wait to see what happens next. And I am hopeful that you will stick around to experience it with me!

Last year, I released my latest romantic suspense novel, Challenging Destiny! It is the sequel to Embracing Destiny. The exciting adventure continues with some of your favorite characters – Sara Taylor, Joe Lazaro, and everyone’s favorite Italian mother, Rose Lazaro.
Sara Taylor’s life is finally coming together. She feels at peace. However, Joe stumbles across a clandestine operation. Any leak would put him and his loved ones in danger. Still reeling from his discovery, a secret from Joe’s past rears its ugly head. Then the unthinkable happens – the worlds collide. Will this battle bring Sara and Joe closer together? Or will they become collateral damage in the fallout?

My first romantic suspense novel, Embracing Destiny, follows Sara Taylor – a woman standing at a crossroad. An unexpected event sets her on a journey. Outside forces intervene, and danger lurks in every shadow.

My poetry book, From 14 to 41, contains soulful poems that capture the essence of life. A blend of love, loss, whimsical and inspirational pieces, readers are drawn in as the raw emotions leap from the pages.
My blog, the one you are currently reading, Pursuing My Passion, is an outlet for my unique storytelling style, sense of humor and sarcastic wit. The most popular posts are from my “Mis-Matched to Miss Matched” dating series. The entries are all true stories based on my online dating adventures.

In other news, I am the coordinator for the Local Authors’ booth for the Annual Christmas Gift & Hobby Show at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. So, if you are an Indiana author and would like to participate next year, please let me know. As soon as this year’s show closes, I will be accepting applications for next year’s show.

Click here to purchase my books. I can sign and dedicate them prior to shipping. Right now, you can enjoy free shipping! So, get those Christmas gift lists started!